I've been a lurker for a few years but here's my first post:

Business could take me and family to Glasgow in December. We might hang around until the Holidays. Do tours to Loch Lomond and Stirling operate at that time of year? I think we will day trip to Edinburgh by train. Is there anything else accessible by train (I'm afraid to drive there) from Glasgow that will be open in late December?

And is Glasgow sightseer worthy for my wife and two boys (13 and 11)? They are very "in" to military and knighthood stuff which is why Edinburgh Castle is a must and why we'll try to get to Stirling. If it were summer I'd try to take them to see Nessie but I assume it'll be incredibly cold and I doubt there's any lake cruising at that time of year.

I have traveled in Scotland during the winter months many time and always had a good time. The train and buses run all year and even though I don't do tours I am sure that some operate during the winter. The only thing I found was some B&B's close during the winter, but many are open all year. A trip you and kids might like is the train to Oban, short ferry ride to Mull and a bus to Iona. Check out "Bowman's". You can take the train to Inverness to see loch Ness. You might want to print out a train route map and also check out the Scotland train passes. Look at Scot Rail. Let us know if we can be of help.

Your biggest problem at that time of year will be the lack of daylight. By December its dark here by 4pm and doesnt get light again until after 8AM. The weather will also be very unpredictable for outside activities,anything from cold and clear to wet and windy.

On the upside the city tour buses will still be running, the Christmas deocrations will be up, head to George Suare at night for those, and the museums and galleries will all be open. Its a nice time of year here and very different from the Summer months. Hope you enjoy!

There are some great galleries and museums in Glasgow, including the terrific Museum of Transport http://www.clyde-valley.com/glasgow/transmus.htm and the Burrell Collection http://www.glasgowmuseums.com/venue/index.cfm?venueid=1 among others. As you already know, Edinburgh is an easy day trip.

Though, if you have free time after the business commitments, I'd consider actually staying in Edinburgh for a couple of nights at least. That would give you more time in the city, plus there are more day tours to choose from that start from Edinburgh than from Glasgow.

You can get to Stirling by train from either Glasgow or Edinburgh. Some tourist attractions out in the countryside will be closed - Inchmahome Priory, boat trips on various lochs, etc. But you'll find lots to fill your time.

As well as Christmas decorations Edinburgh has various other Christmas attactions - like the German market and an open air ice rink in Prindes Street Gardens - and all the Hogmanay goings-on. See www.edinburghschristmas.com & www.edinburghshogmanay.org for what was on last year.

Glasgow has similar goings-on but not quite as much.

As other posters have said, the downside is possible bad weather and the short days.

The weather can't be much worse than Copenhagen in January, can it?



Thanks for the suggestions. I think we may split our visit by spending a few days on the company's bill in Glasgow and then heading over to Edinburgh.

Not sure as I've not yet been to Copenhagen ! Do you live there are have you just visited then ?

I have a possibly romanticised view of Copenhagen being 'nice cold' in the winter though - snowy and still. (Partly down to 'Miss Smilla's Feeling For Snow', I think !) If it's bad in Scotland in December it's more likely to be 'nasty cold' - rainy & windy. But it can be nice too - cold but clear and sunny. In fact in December it's probably like that more days than it is rainy & windy.